making news this morning, americans prepared to do more with less in 2013. unless congress is able to reach a deal. >> the nation is edging closer to that fiscal cliff, as lawmakers spend more time on blame than action. also, he's being called one of the great military giants of our time. this morning, general norman schwarzkopf is being remembered as a soldier and a patriot. and a woman shoves a man in front of an oncoming train and then runs away. it's the second deadly subway shoving this month. and this morning, we're getting our first look at the woman police say did it. and it was a gift meant for a stranger. but it built a community. the unexpected outcome of one

man's message in a bottle. good morning. i'm muhammad lila, in for rob nelson. >> i'm brandi hitt. paula faris is on assignment today. we begin this morning with a new effort to avoid the fiscal cliff. it's an 11th-hour attempt to reach a deal. but lawmakers are not optimistic. >> wendy gillette is here with the latest. good morning, wendy. >> reporter: good morning, president obama will meet be lawmakers this afternoon. time is running out with no deal in sight. president obama will meet with congressional leaders later today at the white house. but it may be too late for a deal. there's just four days left before the fiscal cliff deadline. >> i have to be very honest, mr. president. i don't know, time-wise, how it can happen now. >> reporter: senate majority

leader, harry reid, lashed out at house speaker, john boehner, accusing him of running a dictatorship. >> john boehner seems to care more about his leadership than keeping the country on a secure footing. >> republicans aren't about to write a blank check for anything senate democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff. that wouldn't be fair to the american people. >> reporter: president obama flew home early from his hawaii vacation yesterday. speaker boehner called the house back into town for an unusual sunday session. but members of congress understand the 11th-hour actions may not be enough to appease the public. >> the american people have a right to be very upset with this congress. >> reporter: the fiscal cliff would bring massive tax increases and deep spending cuts. the treasury department would have trouble paying its bills. many economists worry the financial woes would plunge the u.s. back into a recession.

just one possible effect of the fiscal cliff. milk pris could spike $2 or $3 a gallon, because farm programs will expire at the end of the year. some are calling that dairy cliff. live in new york, wendy gillette. >> wendy gillette in new york. thank you. the country has lost one of its great warriors. tributes are pouring in this morning for retired general norman schwarzkopf. the general died yesterday in tampa after a battle with pneumonia. schwarzkopf commanded "operation desert storm" that drove iraqi forces from kuwait. in retirement, he championed causes. norman schwarzkopf was 78. now, to former president george h.w. bush's condition. his chief of staff says he will be in the hospital for a while. the 41st president is recovering from a terrible case of

bronchitis with a series of complications. she says that mr. bush is getting excellent medical treatment in houston. and she would ask that people put the heart back into the closet. interesting. secretary of state hillary clinton is planning to return to work next week. she has not been seen in public for two weeks. she's been recuperating at home since suffering a concussion. it happened when she hit her head during a fainting spell that was brought on by a stomach virus. for the second time this month, a man has been pushed to his death in front of a new york subway train. eyewitnesses say a woman pushed him on the elevated tracks in queens last night. surveillance cameras captured her running away. it's not clear that the woman knew the victim. but witnesses said she had been following him closely and mumbling to herself. a decorated marine corps veteran who served two tours in iraq has been charged with murdering his wife. jennifer sebena was on patrol.

she was shot five times in the head. in a 2010 video for his church, ben talked about his struggle to control his anger. this is a christmas in new york city mom might want to forget. sheba anderson was shaken to the core when she said on christmas morning an 8-year-old girl in her care opened up a donated teddy bear and found a black revolve also inside the same box. she said the gift was wrapped when she got it in a toy giveaway. we're getting a look at the shear power of one of the many tornados that barreled through the south on christmas day. this is surveillance video from a walgreens in mobile, alabama. you can see the fierce winds blowing around the debris. incredible. as the sky darkens, cars literally get sucked in. the winds burst into the store, sending shoppers scrambling. amazingly, no one was hurt.

>> good to hear. that monster storm system has moved out after blasting the northeast. but some of the same states are bracing for yet another round of snow. after getting nearly a foot of snow in parts of the midwest, western pennsylvania and new england, several more inches are coming in today and tomorrow. the initial storm is being blamed for at least 16 deaths. and the system shattered snowfall records in many cities. among them, indianapolis, at 13 inches. little rock got the most christmas snow since 1926. and syracuse, new york, ended up with nearly a foot of snow. time, now, for the weather all across the nation. up to three inches of snow is going to be falling around minneapolis, milwaukee and green bay. a dusting in chicago and detroit. meantime, rain showers and thunderstorms from new orleans to nashville and the carolinas. rain and mountain snow in the pacific northwest. >> meanwhile, 40s from seattle to san francisco. 20s from the twin cities right down to kansas city. and 30s for much of the midwest and the northeast.

coming up next, built for the road ahead. ford makes a major investment in creating jobs. and also ahead, the surprising impact the fiscal cliff will have on a staple of the american diet. also, later, it is back to the sidelines for an nfl coach whose medical battle has inspired his team and his community. we're going to hear from colts' coach chuck pagano, about his fight with cancer. stay with us.

welcome back. you could call it the dairy cliff. there could be some serious sticker shock starting new year's day. you heard wendy mention this moments ago.

here's more information. the price of milk could double, hitting as much as $8 a gallon, if congress does not take action on the new farm bill. without the bill, the 1949 law would kick in. and that would force the government to pay dairy farmers much higher prices for their milk, pushes costs up all across the board. another day, another upbeat report on the housing market. sales of new homes jumped 4.4% between october and november. the fastest pace in 2 1/2 years. overall, home sales are up 15% over the past year. and still, with the economy, a sign of the rebounding u.s. auto industry. ford will spend more than $750,000 to expand a half-dozen manufacturing plants in michigan. that will create more than 2,300 jobs and save 3,000 others. it's part of the company's commitment to invest $6.2 billion in its u.s. plants and create 12,000 jobs by 2015. there are movie flops. and then, there's the 2012 film

that's the biggest flop of all-time. christian slater's indy cop horror film "playback" grossed $264. box office mojo crunched the numbers and found that "playback" played in one theater last spring. if you're counting, that means a couple dozen people decided to buy tickets. >> you know who you are who bought tickets to see that movie. apparently, it was not that good. >> that is a flop. when we come back, the ban on adopting russian children is hitting home for many american families. >> but none more so than for this woman. she is the first child adopted from moscow. and has an emotional take on the new ban. colts coach chuck pagano is ready to do battle with opposing teams. this morning, he shares his journey. ♪

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welcome back. now, a look at the morning road conditions. snow-covered highways in the upper midwest and great lakes. wet commute in the south from the carolinas to the gulf coast. and also, very slick in the pacific northwest. >> now, if you're flying, good luck. there are airport delays possible in minneapolis, chicago, detroit, houston, new orleans, atlanta, and we can't leave out san francisco. in other news, hundreds of russian children with a chance for a new life in the united states are now hanging in the balance. russian president vladimir putin says he will sign a bill barring americans from adopting russian children. and that would block many perspective parents who already met the orphans they plan to bring home. kayla anderson, now 21 years old, was the first baby from moscow to be adopted by an american family. >> it makes me feel so good that i have a family here, versus if i was over there, i would be in an orphanage. there's so many loving families

that can afford the experience and bring these babies home and give them a lifestyle they would never have if they stayed in the country. >> the ban on adoption is believed to be russia's retaliation for a set of human rights sanctions passed by congress and signed into law this month by president obama. sunday's football game in indianapolis is more than just about winning. it will also be a triumph over adversity and personal battles won. abc's t.j. winick reports on the reversal of fortunes for the colts and their coach. >> reporter: coming into this nfl season, the challenges for colts' first-year head coach chuck pagano were many. a team that finished the league-worst 2-14, last year. >> the indianapolis colts select andrew luck, quarterback, stanford. >> reporter: and a rookie quarterback, taking over for the departed peyton manning. but less than a month into the season, those challenges were nothing, compared to the devastating personal news he

received. >> the conclusion came down that he did have leukemia. >> reporter: the 52-year-old was forced to take a leave of absence for treatment, which included chemotherapy. expectations fell for the new-look colts. and yet, they've defied all expectations, behind rookie q.b. andrew luck and an interim head coach. pagano made a point of visiting his team when he was able. >> i'm dancing with two more wins. and we're hoisting that trophy together. >> reporter: the team rallied around their coach. playing behind the motto, chuckstrong. some-the team, fans and cheerleaders have shaved their heads in a show of solidarity. >> i beat it. and you can beat it, too. >> reporter: most of his treatment complete, chuck pagano takes his rightful place this sunday, coaching in the regular season finale against the texans. >> just like our players, we talk about the will to win and the will to beat your man.

you're just lining up against something else. and with that will, you can overcome anything. >> reporter: chuck pagano was so eager to get to work this past monday, he was the first one to show up at team headquarters in indianapolis. t.j. winick, abc news, new york. of course, with football winding down, it's all about the hoops these days. with highlights of some of last night's games, here's the latest from espn sports. >> good morning. cole wright here with your espn news update. and thursday night, the los angeles clippers, looking to stake their claim on the west coast. hoping to make it 15 in a row. but the celtics were standing in their way. first quarter, chris paul to deandre jordan, where no one was standing in his way. billy crystal said, you look marvelous. clippers still rolling. blake griffin. turnaround "j." that would work. a second to go in the first. the big ticket, a rain check. goes down by ten.

clippers still in front. jamal crawford with a tough lay-in. the only kind he makes. clippers with the lead. paul to griffin. griffin goes up for what looked to be an unbelievable jam. but he and sullen jer. they collide. paul pierce finds lamar odom. great block right there. matt barnes, passes the wide ball for three. chris paul was loving it. the clippers go on to win this one, 106-77. college hoops. new mexico taking on cincinnati. unbeaten bearcats down a pair. wright for three. cincy back in front. 54-53. ensuing lobo possession. hugh greenwood to tony snell. they win this one, 55-54. that will do it for your espn news update. don't forget, for the latest

from around the sporting world, tune in to the "highlight express" nightly, espn news. a norwegian soccer player with a killer kick could be in for an amazing career change, thanks to an incredible youtube video. >> havard rugland has never played football. but look at his fancy footwork and you'll understand why he has caught the eye of the nfl. he is getting tryouts with the new york jets. he first tried football last year. but, man, he took a lot of time to get it on one take. but he admits, some things like that there may take a couple times. still ahead, he wants a wife. and he's not afraid to say it. >> the very direct approach this 82-year-old man has decided to take to find love. plus, the message in a bottle that only went a few miles before it was picked up. but the impact it's had is epic. we'll be right back with that story. check out my new treadmill app.

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welcome back, everyone. the great white way goes dark tonight to honor actor jack klugman. the marquee will dim for one minute at 8:00. klugman owned a tony award nomination for "gypsy" in 1960. his broadway roles include "the sunshine boys." britney spears could be out as a judge in "the x factor" after just one season. reports say simon cowell didn't believe she was earning her paycheck. >> could wanted crazy britney. but he got boring britney.

and critics seem to agree that she didn't add much to the show. the clock is ticking and the world is waiting for the big ball drop here in new york in times square. >> preparations have shifted into full swing. and workers are putting on the touches of the giant waterford crystal ball. a chicago woman has found her own unique way to celebrate the holidays. >> she creates amazing gingerbread villages with trains and christmas trees. the village is illuminated. and music plays around it. and she started it as a way to beat homesickness. beautiful, too. and listen to this. an oregon man is going retro in hopes of finding a wife. >> he's cast aside the modern conveniences of match.com or craigslist in favor of a more direct approach.

82-year-old sandy mccullough wears a sign around his neck, looking for his perfect exxon on. he wants her to be over 60. but wouldn't turn down a woman who is younger. >> if a 40-year-old or 50-year-old came along and said, i'm too young but i want to do this. i would probably do it. >> as for his unusual tactic, mccullough believes in asking for what you want plainly and clearly. now, to a story that proves creative inspiration can be found pretty much anywhere. you don't often find a 10-year-old in the laundry room. but this guy is getting some clean sounds out of an unlikely instrument instruments. >> he's been taking lessons for about a year. but this self-taught tot is getting 3,000 hits on youtube. there you have it. career in the making. now, for some of you, your

local news is next. >> for everyone else, we'll be right back with a life-changing journey of a message in a bottle. [ male ann are easy with free pickup eturns from the u.s. postal service. we'll even drop off boxes if you need them. visit usps.com pay, print, and have it picked up for free. any time of year. ♪ nice sweater. thank you. ♪

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today is going to be epic. quaker up. updating our top stories now. with the fiscal cliff deadline looming, president obama and top lawmakers hold last-minute talks at the white house. and the house will meet in a rare sunday session. the nation is remembering retired general norman schwarzkopf who died yesterday in tampa. he led the coalition that forced iraqi forces out of kuwait in 1991. more snow on the way for the midwest and the northeast this weekend. it comes on the heels of a massive system. looking at today's weather. thunderstorms from the carolinas to new orleans. that snow begins in minneapolis and milwaukee. rain and mountain snow in the pacific northwest. and finally, when a california man launched a message in a bottle, he had no

idea it would soon have some far-reaching results. >> our station kgo reports on what happened next. >> here is a coat to keep you warmer. >> reporter: dan jones is spending the day after christmas continuing to give. a brand-new coat and a warm lunch to a homeless man. we will call him jed. >> i really appreciate this. i really do. it's a god send. >> reporter: it came from one little idea dan had on december 2nd. he wanted to give someone and their family a christmas gift. free tickets to the oakland zoo. he put a message in a bottle, with a note to whoever found it to text him. >> i put it in the creek. >> reporter: the bottle traveled a few miles. eventually landing in this creek behind sports authority on concord avenue. jay was back here looking for recycling bottles to trade for money. he said he never found such a valuable bottle. >> it has a note in it. and it says -- >> reporter: you still have it?

>> i carry it. i asked instead of the tickets, if i could get some food. >> reporter: dan and his friends have given more than just food. new shoes, warm clothes. christmas party leftovers. they even secured a bicycle for jay. but someone stole it christmas night. >> a lot of this story breaks my heart. what are you going to do, though? all you can do is the best you can do. >> reporter: dan needs help to get jay back on his feet. but jay wants people to know, he doesn't want a handout. he wants a chance. >> it's hard for me to accept things from people. i don't hop couch-to-couch. i don't do the, you know, call people up every time i'm hungry or do this or do that. i will bust my butt and go recycle. or i'll look around town. see if anybody needs any side jobs done. >> reporter: five days away from his 28th birthday and from 2013, jay's wish is to get the opportunity to do just that. in concord, ciara clapper, abc news.